Concealed bed lamp



Feb. 28, 1950 B. coNEs CONCEALED BED LAMP Filed Au a; 1946 INVENTOR, BEN Com:

fiToRNEY.

Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCEALED BED LAMP Ben Cones, Indianapolis, Ind. Application August 3, 1946, Serial No. 688,189"

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a lamp structure com bined with a transverse rail of a bed headpiece, and has for a primary object the incorporation of the lamp structure within the rail in such manner that there Will be no projected parts beyond.

the rail other than the switch operating member such as a pull chain. A further primary object of the invention is to provide such a structure that the only alteration required in the rail is the cutting of an aperture therein to permit the in-,

sertion of the lamp structure therethrough and the securing of the structure without use of bolts, screws or other like retaining devices. By reason of inclusion of all of the lamp structure as above indicated within the rail, there are no projecting parts that may be accidentally displaced, and yet the illumination is directed forwardly and downwardly as desired.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention, including the unique combinations of the various elements as set forth inthe appended claims permitting easy installation and low cost of production, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a bed head piece embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in vertical transversesection on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3, a View in diametrical section on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a view in top plan of the lamp and socket holder element; and 1 Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of a fragmentary lengthof the head piece top rail through which the switch chain drops.

Referring to the drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views therein, one particular form of a bed head piece II) is illustrated in Fig. 1 wherein the posts and top rail form one continuous length of tubing I I. In the horizontal length-of the tube II, a rectilinear aperture I2 is formed in any suitable manner to open forwardly and downwardly in relation to the seam I 3 of the tube which is generally positioned along the extreme under side thereof in the horizontal length of the tube. wardly from the forward upper edge of the aperture to form a rectilinear tongue I4 extending around and upwardly in a curving manner spaced from the inner wall of the tube I I.

A socket I5 is selected to have an external A portion at least of the tube is bent ins diameter less than the internal diameter of the tube II and is preferably provided with an insulated external wall. A tubular lamp I6 is mounted in this socket I5. The lamp I6 is preferably of that typeknown as a show-case type of lamp being cylindrical in nature and having an external diameter substantially equal to that of the socket I5. The lamp and its socket are detachably carried by a mounting element H.

The mounting element I1, in the present showing, comprises essentially a shell, arcuate in cross section to have a reflecting surface on its concave side. The element I"! has a foot I8 turned upwardly from the reflecting surface I9 to form ing surface IS a suflicient distance to engage over the outer end of. the lamp I6 when secured in the socket I5. The window 2| is provided to permit in number on each side.

the curved end of the lamp I6 to project slidingly therein or therethrough as a means of not only holding the'lamp against longitudinal displacement in the directionof the tongue 20, but also to hold the lamp I6 from lateral displacement from the surface I9. This tongue 29 is preferablyelastic so as to yieldingly engage the end of thelamp I6.

Along the opposite edges of the element I! are a plurality of fingers 22, herein shown as three These fingers 22 curve around to engage over the sides of the lamp I6,

- with one set of the fingers 2-2 at least elastically engaging the opposite sides of the socket I 5. The lengths of thesefingers 22 are in each instance sufficient-to grip the lamp I6 and its socket I5 beyond the diametrical plane through the lampso that over half-of the circumference of the lamp I6 lies'withinthe fingers 22, The elasticity of these fingers 22 permits the lamp I6 and socket I5 to be firmly held along the element I'I against the reflecting surface I9 and also permits the removal therefrom, particularly when the lamp I6 has to be replaced.

The'radius ofcurvature' of the element I1 ex ceeds that of the tube II. The fingers 22 are given a much shorter radius of curvature than that of the wall of the element I! in order that they will initially be spaced oppositely one from the other a distance'between their outer ends rebetween those fingers. A second set of fingers 23, at least two on each side of the element I1 and extending from the edges thereof, is provided. These fingers 23 have a radius of curvature at least equaling that of the element I1, and preferably more. These fingers 23 are elastic and in the nature of springs. They are spaced apart longitudinally along the element II, one finger 23 from ,the other .on the same edge respectively a distance approaching but somewhat less than that of the longitudinal length of the tongue I4.

The element Il may be secured in position within the tube II before mounting of the lamp and its socket I5 thereon, or the lamp I6 and its socket I5 may initially be mounted on the element H to be there secured as above indicated before positioning that assembly within the tube Assuming that the assembly of the lamp, socket, and the element I1 has been initially made, the cord 24 leading from the socket I5 is threaded through the tube II from the aperture I2 and around inside of the tube to any desired position of outlet, herein shown as on one of the posts 25 where the cord 24 is carried outwardly from the side of the post to have a plug connector 26 thereon. The socket I5 end of the assembly is then inserted through the aperture I? to have the whole assembly entered within the tube H. This assembly is pressed inwardly toward the inside face of the tube -II opposite the aperture 12 to have the pull chain 21 carried downwardly through a hole 28 initially provided in the under side of the tube I I. The pull chain 21 leads from the socket I5 to operate the switch therein all in the usual manner, the socket I5 being of the pull chain switch type well known to those versed in the art, and hence the details thereof are not herein illustrated. The assembly above indicated is revolved within the tube II to have the upper fingers 23 enter under the lip I4 whereupon the assembly is then revolved in a counter-clockwise direction in respect to Fig. 2, to have the lower fingers 23 drop down behind the seam I3. To effect this position of these fingers 23, the assembly is pushed inwardly bodily to allow these fingers 23 to spring in behind that seam [3 while the upper fingers 23 are held under the lip I4. The assembly is longitudinally aligned in reference to the aperture I 2 to have the lamp I8 therebehind. The assembly is held against longitudinal displacement along the tube I under an pull on the cord 24 by employing an abutment such as a foot 29 extending from one of the fingers 23 adjacent the tongue 20 to abut the lateral edge of the lip I4. Preferably the aperture I2 is closed over by some transparent material such as by a sheet of transparent plastic 3!], the inner edges 3| and 32 of which are sprung inwardl and under the opposing longitudinal edges of the aperture I2 with the longitudinal ends 33 and 34 lapping over on the outer surface of the tube I I.

Thus it is to be seen that a simply constructed but quite efiicient mounting of a lamp is provided to carry that lamp entirely within the tube II without having to employ any screws or bolts or any other like means. The holding element I1 is simply elastically engaged within the tube to be held in a substantially rigid position permitting quick assembly of the unit and also permitting easy replacement of the lamp I6. While I have herein shown and described the invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For mounting a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinally disposed aperture therein; a lip inturned in a direction ,away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the inner end of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of, the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip.

For mountin a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinally disposed aperture therein; a lip inturned in a direction away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the inner end of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried'by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip; said rail having an internal abutment spaced circumferentially around from said lip; and means carried by said element to drop behind said'abutment to hold said element against reverse rotation to maintain said lip engaging fingers under said lip.

3. For mounting a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinally disposed aperture therein; a lip intu-rned in a direction away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the inner end of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip; said rail having an internal alout ment spaced circ-umferentially around from said lip; and means carried by said element to drop behind said abutment to hold said element against reverse rotation to maintain said lip engaging fingers under said lip; and said lip engaging fingers and said element having a combined radius of curvature greater than that of said rail whereby the element has to be pressed toward the wall of the rail to enter said fingers under said lip and have said means engage said abutment.

4;. For mounting a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinall disposed aperture therein; a lip inturned in a direction away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the innerend of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip; said rail having an internal abutment spaced circumferentially around from said lip; and means carried by said element to drop behind said abutment to hold said element against reverse rotation to maintain said lip engaging fingers 5. under said lip; and means carried by said element to hold said lamp and socket thereon against longitudinal displacement.

5. For mounting a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinally disposed aperture therein; a lip inturned in a direction away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the inner end of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip; said rail having an internal abutment spaced circumferentially around from said lip; and means carried by said element to drop behind said abutment to hold said element against reverse rotation to maintain said lip engaging fingers under said lip; and means carried by said element to hold said lamp and socket thereon against longitudinal displacement; and means holding said element against longitudinal displacement in at least one direction.

6. For mounting a lamp and socket, the combination with a horizontally disposed bed head piece hollow rail having a longitudinally disposed aperture therein; a lip inturned in a direction away from a longitudinal edge of the aperture to have the inner end of this lip spaced from the rail wall; a lamp and socket mounting element; fingers extending from the element to elastically engage about a lamp and socket to be carried by the element; and fingers extending from an edge of the element adapted, upon body rotation of the element within the rail, to enter under said lip; said rail having an internal abutment spaced circumferentially around from said lip; and means carried by said element to drop behind said abutment to hold said element against reverse rotation to maintain said lip engaging fingers under said lip; and means carried by said element to hold said lamp and socket thereon against longitudinal displacement; and means holding said element against longitudinal displacement in at least one direction; said last means comprising an arm carried by one of said fingers extending in the path of a circumferential edge of said lip.

BEN CONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

